OME Dakar install: this look right to you?

[jawjatek]

Holy crud, its going to tip over forward. I heard there might be a little rake, but daaaayummmmm. I bought the light medium kit from Kurt at CO. Yeah he knows about it and wanted these pictures. Thought I would throw them up here as well for discussion. I don't think this is typical; somethings wrong. They are installed correctly, in case you were wondering. I measured from ground up to edge of wheel well on flat garage floor, at axle centerline front and back before beginning the install, and wrote the measurements on masking tape on the truck. If anything, the vehicle was sagging in the back: 32-5/8" front, 31-1/8" back (orig back springs were pretty flat). Now the measurements are 34.5" front (2" lift here as expected), and 37.5" back (6-3/8" lift in back WTF??). Ps this is after riding some trails to settle it in. Cruiser has 1/2" lean, low on drivers side, and I put the +springs on that side. I can live with 1/2" lean, but not the rake. For other views and measurements, just ask.

Here's a whole photo album including measurements: photobucket album FJ60 after OME install

EDIT: RESOLVED PAGE 4.

 

[theside00]

Do you have the part numbers off of all the springs?

 

[MANUCHAO]

It would help a great deal if you posted part numbers and pics of the underside ( shackles and springs front and rear.)

 

[jawjatek]

The rear springs are the + CSR017RA, both sides, fronts are CS003F (+ & o, + installed on driver's side). Pics of the springs and shackles will have to wait until morning but its all correct. Not our first rodeo. Nothing to see there, move along, but I'll take some in the morning as it is too dark.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Hey Joe, thanks for the pics, these help tremendously. I think it is 100% fair to say something is seriously out of whack on the back end of this, 6+" of lift in the rear out of the lightest rear OME spring is completely counter-intuitive to say the least. Now that we know it is rear that is high rather than the front that is low... we can start troubleshooting. I'll follow-up with OME and you tomorrow.

 

[Crimson Cruiser]

My HJ60 with a 12HT did exactly the same.

I ended up going with OME meds in the back, heavies upfront and also added overload add-a-leafs to the spring pack.
It sits level now when it's loaded and a full take of fuel.

 

[theside00]

Those look like the right part numbers. The front should be a 2 inch lift and the rear should be a 3 inch. Are the shackles the OME greasable ones? Pictures of the underneath would help out.

 

[jawjatek]

Edit: for the part numbers - its the ultimate kit on the website. PICs of underneath IN THE AM.
Ultimate L/M Kit (Includes EVERYTHING) Part# ED60ULM - $xxxx

Includes:
2 - CS003F Front OME Emu Dakar Leaf Springs
2 - 60009 Front Nitrocharger Sport Shock Absorber
2 - CS017R A/B Rear OME Emu Dakar Leaf Springs
2 - 60032/62 Rear Nitrocharger Sport Shock Absorber
4 - SB1 OME Poly Spring Bushing Kits
1 - OMEGS2 OME Greasable Front Shackle Kit
1 - OMEGS1 OME Greasable Rear Shackle Kit
2 - OMEGP1 OME Greasable Pin Kit
1 - OMESD24 OME Steering Stabilizer
8 - OMEU51/59B OME U-Bolts & Nuts

Kurt: Any other pics or measurements you need just let me know and I'll get them. I will get pics of the shackles and such so you can check that in the AM so you'll have those in the morning.

I like the ride, though. Feels nice and stiff on the trail, like a new vehicle. I keep spilling my drink on the steering wheel though.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

My HJ60 with a 12HT did exactly the same.

I ended up going with OME meds in the back, heavies upfront and also added overload add-a-leafs to the spring pack.
It sits level now when it's loaded and a full take of fuel.

Fwiw those are mediums in back and the CS005F (heavy plus leaf spring) in the front are not even going to offer an additional 2" let alone the close to 4" to match the 6+" lift he has going on here. The problem here is 100% related to the back end and while a little taller front will help, something has to be done to get the 6" lift in the back more like a 3" lift.

 

[kjedmondson182]

I have CS005 in the back and CS004 in the front. Mine sits about like that too, I should grab some measurements.

2 options, put bigger tires in the front or enjoy the fuel efficiency of coasting down hill all the time.

All kidding aside I'm really thinking about taking a leaf out, there is a lot of spring back there and my shackles are straight up and down, its rough ridin'

 

[dbleon]

Wow that is disheartening.... to say the least. After dropping major coin, you'd expect better. Something must be haywire.

 

[jawjatek]

LOL. Downhill all the time. If it was the 70s and I had big staggered tires, chicks would dig it. Did Big Daddy Roth ever do a Rat Fink Land Cruiser? I would pay good money for that bubblegum card or plastic model. If you know what I'm talking about you just dated yourself, ahem.

Well, time to book my buddy's shop for OME suspension, round 2. I can't work at home. Air tools and proper equipment, plus tunes and beer in the fridge, is the only way I get into wrenching, plus my bud is the best rebuilder and car tech I've ever met. Springs and such go a lot faster with 2 guys. Except this time I won't have to pound on the bushings like a maddened Norseman to get them out.

 

[Major Nelson]

just paint some flames on the sides and it'll look normal.

 

[Spike Strip]

Man, that truck looks like it's getting ready to mate ....

 

[bapmia]

That is exactly how mine looked after I installed the same springs. I didn't like the look of the stink bug and more importantly the effect the negative caster had on my steering. Per Kurt's advice I removed one, and then later two, leafs out of the spring pack (can't remember which ones--3rd and 5th maybe???). Even with two leafs removed the truck still rides noticeably higher in the rear--and that's one year later. I always thought something might be wrong with the springs because after searching through mud and looking at pictures of other rigs with newly installed springs, I have never seen a case of stink bug as bad as mine--until now. Damn...wish I had sent Kurt pics. It would be great if you/Kurt could keep us apprised of what ARB's response is.

 

[lehiguy]

Mine was a bit of a Stinkbug too, but not like that. That is weird. SOA on the front only???

 

[CardinalFJ60]

Man, that truck looks like it's getting ready to mate ....

"In the animal world, they call it presentin'"
-the beastie boys

 

[cruiseroutfit]

I have CS005 in the back and CS004 in the front. Mine sits about like that too, I should grab some measurements.

With CS005R springs in the back you should have a minimum of 400lbs of constant (i.e bumpers, rack, etc) always on the back of your rig or you will get more lift than designed.

The OP's case is different as he has the lightest spring they make for the back which should provide just ~3" with no load and ~2" with say 200-300 lbs of gear. The 6" he is getting is out of control.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

That is exactly how mine looked after I installed the same springs. I didn't like the look of the stink bug and more importantly the effect the negative caster had on my steering. Per Kurt's advice I removed one, and then later two, leafs out of the spring pack (can't remember which ones--3rd and 5th maybe???). Even with two leafs removed the truck still rides noticeably higher in the rear--and that's one year later. I always thought something might be wrong with the springs because after searching through mud and looking at pictures of other rigs with newly installed springs, I have never seen a case of stink bug as bad as mine--until now. Damn...wish I had sent Kurt pics. It would be great if you/Kurt could keep us apprised of what ARB's response is.

Shoot me some pics and let's see if we can't kill two birds with one stone.

To back up the pics you've seen, we've installed many of these exact setups here in the shop. They start with a bit of rake (no more than 2") however the rear always drops a bit more once it gets some loads in and out and some flex. The fronts rarely see much droop as they already start with a heavy motor load and they by design have far less arch thus less designed sag. But with two trucks experiencing 6" of rear lift... we need to get with ARB/OME.

 

[jawjatek]

Pics of shackles and underneath up loaded to the original photo link. Best I could do in a hurry to get to work. Here is one sample: